Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) Stock Analysis

November 11, 2026

This is a peer-relative look at Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF): its performance, risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividend, and valuation are each measured against its Materials peers, so every number reads in context rather than in isolation.

Company Profile

Company profile fields for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF)
Profile Item	IFF
Name	International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.
Country/Region	United States
GICS Sector	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials
GICS Industry	Chemicals
GICS Sub-Industry	Specialty Chemicals
Market Capitalization	20.69 billion USD
Currency	USD
Exchange	NYSE
Listing Date	December 17, 1974
Security Type	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

IFF

GSPC

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) metric values compared with Materials industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: IFF	Industry group median
Total Return (1Y)	40.13%	19.59%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	8.28%	18.91%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-8.71%	5.70%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

IFF

GSPC

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) metric values compared with Materials industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: IFF	Industry group median
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	36.26%	52.82%
Beta (5Y)	0.88	0.97
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-56.66%	-58.44%

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Each dot is a stock plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. IFF is highlighted; the dashed line is the Capital Allocation Line from the risk-free rate through the industry median — dots above it are stronger on a risk-adjusted basis.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) metric values compared with Materials industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: IFF	Industry group median
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.99	0.32
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.71	0.47

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) has negative ROE of -7.37%. That can come from trailing losses or negative book equity, so it is a warning state rather than a clean capital-efficiency measure.

IFF

Materials industry group

-7.37%

Group distribution

Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
Q1: -3.41%
IFF: -7.37%
Min: -32.81%

Largest peers

SCCO: 52.88%
NEM: 27.26%
BHP: 24.00%
AEM: 23.24%
RIO: 19.31%
LIN: 17.72%
IFF: -7.37%

Where Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) stands on ROE within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Net Margin (TTM)

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) keeps 1.68% of revenue as net profit, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal net margin range. Its full cost stack is taking a typical share of sales for the industry.

IFF

Materials industry group

1.68%

Group distribution

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
Median: 5.28%
IFF: 1.68%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

Largest peers

AEM: 41.01%
SCCO: 37.16%
NEM: 34.73%
RIO: 19.59%
LIN: 19.34%
BHP: 16.73%
IFF: 1.68%

Where Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) stands on net margin within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) turns 9.53% of revenue into operating profit, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal operating margin range. Its core cost structure looks typical for the industry.

IFF

Materials industry group

9.53%

Group distribution

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
Median: 12.56%
IFF: 9.53%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

Largest peers

SCCO: 59.94%
AEM: 55.49%
NEM: 49.99%
BHP: 43.34%
RIO: 28.05%
LIN: 27.97%
IFF: 9.53%

Where Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) stands on operating margin within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Profitability Metrics

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) metric values compared with Materials industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: IFF	Industry group median
ROE (TTM)	-7.37%	8.76%
ROA (TTM)	2.18%	4.42%
Net Margin (TTM)	1.68%	5.28%
Operating Margin (TTM)	9.53%	12.56%
Gross Margin (TTM)	36.27%	27.57%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) grew revenue -5.17%, in the lower peer quartile. The top line is expanding more slowly than at most peers, which can reflect softer demand, lost share, or weaker pricing.

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF): Revenue Growth across different time periods, set against Materials industry-group medians.

EPS Growth

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) grew earnings per share -248.42%, in the lower peer quartile. Per-share profits are advancing more slowly than at most peers, so margins, costs, or share count deserve a closer look.

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF): EPS Growth across different time periods, set against Materials industry-group medians.

Growth Metrics

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) metric values compared with Materials industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: IFF	Industry group median
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-5.17%	8.36%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-4.34%	0.59%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-248.42%	-1.73%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	2.12%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) has current ratio of 1.87, in the healthier middle range for its industry. The short-term asset cushion looks balanced relative to peers rather than stretched thin.

IFF

Materials industry group

1.87

Group distribution

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
IFF: 1.87
Q1: 1.45
Min: 0.16

Largest peers

SCCO: 4.31
AEM: 2.75
NEM: 2.45
BHP: 1.89
IFF: 1.87
RIO: 1.42
LIN: 0.86

Where Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) stands on current ratio within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) has debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal leverage range. Its mix of debt and equity looks typical for the industry.

IFF

Materials industry group

0.51

Group distribution

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
IFF: 0.51
Median: 0.47
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

Largest peers

LIN: 0.65
SCCO: 0.63
IFF: 0.51
BHP: 0.50
RIO: 0.32
NEM: 0.16
AEM: 0.01

Where Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) stands on debt-to-equity ratio within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Financial Strength Metrics

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) metric values compared with Materials industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: IFF	Industry group median
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.87	2.24
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.51	0.47
Net Debt / EBITDA	3.51	1.37

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) has dividend yield of 1.85%, in the upper peer-yield quartile while still inside the industry range. The dividend offers more cash income per dollar of share price than most peers, though payout coverage still matters.

IFF

Materials industry group

1.85%

Group distribution

Max: 4.52%
IFF: 1.85%
Q3: 1.85%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

RIO: 5.59%
SCCO: 2.30%
BHP: 2.19%
IFF: 1.85%
LIN: 1.21%
AEM: 0.93%
NEM: 0.87%

Where Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) stands on dividend yield within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) has payout ratio of 62.26%, above the industry’s usual payout band. A larger share of earnings is going to dividends, so the cushion narrows if profit weakens.

IFF

Materials industry group

62.26%

Group distribution

Max: 83.62%
IFF: 62.26%
Q3: 41.37%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

BHP: 68.84%
IFF: 62.26%
RIO: 54.46%
SCCO: 52.43%
LIN: 41.83%
AEM: 14.26%
NEM: 11.95%

Where Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) stands on payout ratio within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Metrics

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) metric values compared with Materials industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: IFF	Industry group median
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.85%	0.38%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	62.26%	9.54%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) trades at P/E ratio of 236.06, above the peer range for its industry. The market is paying unusually heavily for TTM earnings relative to comparable companies.

IFF

Materials industry group

236.06

Group distribution

IFF: 236.06
Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
Median: 18.82
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

Largest peers

IFF: 236.06
LIN: 34.21
SCCO: 22.27
BHP: 20.70
AEM: 15.61
NEM: 14.03
RIO: 11.35

Where Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) stands on P/E ratio within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) trades at 1.91 on P/S ratio, roughly in the peer group’s normal range. The market is not making a strong cheap-or-rich statement about its revenue base.

IFF

Materials industry group

1.91

Group distribution

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
IFF: 1.91
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

Largest peers

SCCO: 8.34
LIN: 6.53
AEM: 6.44
NEM: 4.72
BHP: 3.46
RIO: 2.20
IFF: 1.91

Where Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) stands on P/S ratio within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) trades at 1.56 on P/B ratio, roughly in line with the industry’s normal price-to-book range. Its balance sheet is not being priced at a clear discount or premium versus peers.

IFF

Materials industry group

1.56

Group distribution

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
IFF: 1.56
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

Largest peers

SCCO: 10.89
LIN: 6.00
BHP: 3.98
NEM: 3.53
AEM: 3.27
RIO: 2.08
IFF: 1.56

Where Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) stands on P/B ratio within its Materials peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Valuation Metrics

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) metric values compared with Materials industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: IFF	Industry group median
P/E Ratio (TTM)	236.06	18.82
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.91	1.87
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.56	2.08
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-10.66%	3.08%